Only one independent candidate declared expenses thus far, No major party stated yet: EC

Colombo, Srptember 30 (Daily Mirror) - Only a single independent candidate of the Presidential Poll 2024 has declared his campaign finances, whereas no major party had stated their election expenses by the end of September, having nine of 21 days of the grace period to declare expenses had lapsed by yesterday, the Daily Mirror learns. 

Independent candidate M. Premasiri Manage, who contested under the symbol ‘Spectacles’ had declared his campaign finances to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) by September 30th, yet adhering to the newly passed law of Regulation of Election Expenditure Act No.3 of 2023.

A senior Election Commission official told the Daily Mirror today that no other candidate including any of the major political parties contested for the polls had declared their income or expenses during the election thus far. 

According to the Regulation of Election Expenditure law, which was passed in January 2023 and was tested for the first time during the 2024 Presidential Poll, a candidate or the party represented by him or her should declare their campaign finances within 21 days of the conclusion of the election to avoid legal action. 

Since September 21st the day of the Presidential Election, the ECSL announced that every candidate should declare their campaign finances by October 12 or that legal action would be sought through the police and the Attorney General. 

Under the provisions in the act, a party with its candidate should submit two separate expenditure lists, which are stated as 40% of campaign finances to be declared by the party and 60% of the expenses to be stated by the candidate itself. 

The official said that they have made several written reminders to all the independent candidates and the parties to declare their finances before the stipulated date of October 12th and had received a response from independent candidate Manage. 

Meanwhile, National People’s Power (NPP) Executive Council Member Bimal Rathnayake had inquired about the details of filing their expense declaration. 

The official said the candidates in their financial declaration report should state their election campaign income including donations and their expenses including publicity and propaganda supported by an affidavit. 

As per the spending limit set by the ECSL a candidate or party could spend only Rs.109 per each registered voter in the country and a total of Rs.1.8 billion.